Cutting Out

Title:  Cutting Out

Author:  Meredith Shayne

Publisher:  Bottom Drawer Publications

Length:  247 pages

Rating:  B List

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  A twenty-year veteran of the shearing shed, Aussie Shane Cooper loves his job, and the home he’s made for himself in New Zealand. If he’s a little lonely, he’s got good mates to keep his spirits up. When a hot, cocky young shearer named Lachlan Moore catches his eye at a competition, he’s content to look but not touch, knowing the young man is out of his league.

Lachie wouldn’t mind a piece of Shane, but the gorgeous gun shearer from Australia is soon forgotten when the Christchurch earthquake hits, and tragedy strikes Lachie’s family. Lachie deals with it the best he can, cutting himself off from all he knows. A year later and he’s back in the shearing shed, out of practice and lacking confidence. That Shane’s there to watch him flounder doesn’t help his nerves.

As Lachlan struggles to re-acclimatise, Shane can’t resist giving him a hand to get back on his feet. As they move from friends to something more, Shane finds himself wanting to know everything he can about Lachie. But Lachie’s got secrets he desperately wants to keep, and when things come to a head, those secrets might just mean the end of them before they’ve truly begun.

Review:  A charming romance with emotional depth and heart. Well written, it pulled me into the story and left me aching and hoping right along with the men as they dealt with the complications, mistakes and pains of life and falling in love.

Shane is a good guy, gentle, kind and considerate. A good friend, reliable and trusted as a lead in his field of sheep shearing. His life is simple. he loves shearing and has good friends, but something is missing. When he meets Lachie and they start their affair, Shane begins to think that he might have found that something more that he’s been needing. I loved Shane’s vulnerability and honesty.

Lachie is struggling. His family was badly hurt by the Christchurch earthquake and there seems to be nothing he can do to fix things, no matter how hard he tries. He’s had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibility. He does an amazing job and proves himself to be a good man, strong and dependable. Lachie feels overwhelmed and scared. He keeps shutting Shane out even as he craves a deeper connection.

When the men first see each other they are both deeply attracted, but circumstances intervene and it’s not until after Lachie has come back to shearing that they have a chance to get to know each other. Starting out as friends who give into the intense chemistry between them, it seems they might be perfect for each other. If Shane can let go of his insecurities and Lachie can find the confidence to be honest with and trust Shane.

I love the glimpses into the world of sheep shearing and life in New Zealand. The secondary relationships with their friends and family are well developed and allowed an insight into the characters and their world.

Fun, sexy, sweet, a little achy, it has an interesting cast of characters and setting. A very enjoyable story that I recommend.

Reviewed By Nina